Friday 07/31/15

Mandating Voluntary?

DTN Livestock Analyst John Harrington finds the ongoing attempt to supersede mandatory country-of-origin labeling legislation for beef and pork with voluntary legislation as both silly and a waste of time.[Read Full Blog Post]

Monday 06/15/15

No Country of Origin for Congressmen

The House voted 300 to 131 to repeal country of origin labels for meat. While the bill now goes to the Senate, the House vote represents a victory for Canadian and Mexican livestock producers.[Read Full Blog Post]

This re-commoditization of beef ties right in with all the anti-capitalist, 'progressive' greenies' agendas of wipeing cows off of all US soil. Future industry headlines will often repeat versions of the following phrase: "Imports in the next 12 months are expected to rise due to shortages of domestic supply." And for that you will be able to credit the largely multinational meat industry and its closely held subsidiary, NCBA. This also explains the reasons behind John Herrington's recent piece, "Broken Mouth Ranchers."

Posted by H. Clay Daulton at
9:05AM CDT 06/22/15

Friday 06/05/15

Broken-Mouth Ranchers

What is worse for the future of the U.S. beef industry, broken-mouth cows or broken-mouth ranchers?[Read Full Blog Post]

Recruit more ranchers, good luck. Would that not require a full time commitment? Just like every other industry. Don't hamburger come from the McDonalds by inserting an EBT card?

Posted by Bonnie Dukowitz at
6:52AM CDT 06/07/15

The problem of expanding or starting in cattle is the old rancher owned the grass and don't want to retire and the biggest problem is the banking industry don't want to loan money to younger higher risk. Banks cop out for that is to apply for a government loan and the government employees that are in control of giving out the loans think the are saving government money by declining the loans. They haven't figured out that the government money is to loan out and make small town American grow. But what can we expect from employees that can get a job anywhere else. The government don't let the people down. The incompetent government employees make the government and government programs bad.

Posted by GREG HERDEN at
11:58AM CDT 06/10/15

There is truth in your comment, Greg. My point is that it takes much more than showing up at the lending office looking for cash. Too many, if not most in any industry, this day and age, are more concerned with days off rather than days on. Farming is a 7 day a week deal.

Posted by Bonnie Dukowitz at
6:30AM CDT 06/11/15

John, you have a good point. There are a lot of political forces working to limit/destroy livestock agriculture. The rancher looking to rebuild his cow numbers can see a lot of tough going in the next ten years, beyond just his physical ability to recover quickly from a hard day of working cattle. It has never been easy, that for sure will not change.

Posted by JAMES WINELAND at
8:59AM CDT 06/13/15

75000 for semi load of cattle got me ..80 years old don't need it 6 silos empty for sale in fact 1000;s in Carroll co ill

Posted by RONNIE STURTEVANT at
7:25AM CDT 07/01/15

Friday 05/29/15

Cattle Traders Look for Irish Blessing

The classical blessing from the Emerald Isle is a pretty good late-spring prayer for anxious cattle feeders torn between fairly solid cash ground on one hand and significantly discounted futures on the other.[Read Full Blog Post]

Friday 05/15/15

New Big Bets on Hog Expansion

Major pork integrators Seaboard and Triumph Foods have just made a costly pronouncement this week, unveiling a joint venture to construct a new processing facility in Sioux City, Iowa.[Read Full Blog Post]

What about the dollar? Exports do what if dollar higher? Think before you write? Bird flu will be handled USDA will make sure of this? Short memory what did mad cow do? Cut exports? Surely not? Expect the same with poultry? Meaning cheaper wings? Buy Hooters?

Posted by Unknown at
1:26AM CDT 04/11/15

What about the dollar? Exports do what if dollar higher? Think before you write? Bird flu will be handled USDA will make sure of this? Short memory what did mad cow do? Cut exports? Surely not? Expect the same with poultry? Meaning cheaper wings? Buy Hooters?

Posted by Unknown at
1:26AM CDT 04/11/15

Monday 03/23/15

Trading the Vernal Equinox

Historically, the stretch between late March and mid-May represents the second quarter's "sweet spot," a price-positive confluence of tight feedlot supplies and the best of seasonal beef demand.[Read Full Blog Post]

Mon Jun 15, 2015 04:27 PM CDTThe House voted 300 to 131 to repeal country of origin labels for meat. While the bill now goes to the Senate, the House vote represents a victory for Canadian and Mexican livestock producers.

Fri May 29, 2015 03:12 PM CDTThe classical blessing from the Emerald Isle is a pretty good late-spring prayer for anxious cattle feeders torn between fairly solid cash ground on one hand and significantly discounted futures on the other.

Fri May 15, 2015 03:47 PM CDTMajor pork integrators Seaboard and Triumph Foods have just made a costly pronouncement this week, unveiling a joint venture to construct a new processing facility in Sioux City, Iowa.

Mon Mar 23, 2015 04:25 PM CDTHistorically, the stretch between late March and mid-May represents the second quarter's "sweet spot," a price-positive confluence of tight feedlot supplies and the best of seasonal beef demand.

Mon Feb 2, 2015 12:29 PM CSTAgriculture faces various studies and mixed signals when it comes to climate change. Farmers need to adapt yet many argue that agriculture also does more harm than good trying to mitigating greenhouse gases through biofuels.